Here we go, football fans.
Youth and adult flag football seasons at the Center of Anna Maria Island got started last week.
The youth league held a preseason jamboree Jan. 10, giving teams a chance to test run their playbook. With no scores kept, teams could experiment freely. The season gets going for real Jan. 16-17.
The adult league had an official start Jan. 12 with four games, starting with Luxury Services cruising to a 51-19 victory over Gulf Drive Cafe behind a huge all-around game from Chase Richardson, who threw six touchdown passes. Richardson lead the offense, which received four touchdown grabs from Tim Holly and two from Sequiel Martinez, who also added three extra points. Richardson also left his mark on defense, with two defensive touchdowns on interceptions.
James Herrholtz threw two touchdown passes to lead Gulf Drive Cafe, which also received two touchdown receptions from Jacob Ferda and a touchdown grab from Cole Carter. Steven Pavina chipped in with a touchdown pass and an interception on defense in the loss.
Next up was another blowout as Moss Builders handed a 49-0 thumping to Ugly Grouper. Ryan Moss threw four touchdown passes and ran for two more. Greg Moss was on the receiving end of all four touchdowns, while James Roadman added four extra points and a 2-point conversion in the victory.
Kiatrell Zachery’s four receptions paced Ugly Grouper, which also received a quarterback sack from Daniel O’Connor in the loss.
The Banks Home Lending Team edged Solid Rock Construction 22-19 in the third game of the night. Jeremy Cruz Rodriguez threw three touchdown passes, including to Shawn Balvin, who sparked the defense with a sack, an interception and a defensive touchdown. Cory Banks added a touchdown reception to complete the winning score.
Solid Rock Construction was led by Tuna McCracken, who accounted for three touchdowns — one throwing and two running. Corey Jacques had a touchdown catch and Tyler Brewer had an interception to go along with an extra point.
The Briley Mortgage Team outlasted Sandbar Restaurant 37-33 behind five TD passes and a rushing TD from quarterback Matt Briley. Alonzo Lemus finished with three touchdown catches, while Connor Haughey added two touchdown receptions in the victory.
Matt Manger threw three touchdown passes and Zachary Routh added two touchdown passes and a rushing touchdown for Sandbar Restaurant. Dina DeJesus had two touchdown catches, while Cody Allen, Derrik Daniels and Christian Hampton each had one in the loss.
Horseshoe news
Horseshoe action at the Anna Maria City Hall pits saw four teams advance to the knockout round after posting 3-0 records during pool play.
The first semifinal saw Tom Farrington and Ron Hooper eliminate Karl Thomas and Bob Baker by a 21-14 score, while Bob Rawley and Rod Bussey advanced with a 23-1 thrashing of Bob Mason and Gary Howcroft. Farrington and Hooper won the day’s bragging rights with a 21-9 victory over Rowley and Bussey.
It was a three-team affair in the knockout round of the Jan. 14 action. Mason and Steve Doyle drew the bye and watched as Farrington waltzed past Bob Heiger and Howcroft by a 24-7 score. Farrington kept up his hot start to the year with a 21-3 victory over Mason and Doyle, putting him in the mix on four consecutive victories to start the year.
Play gets underway at 9 a.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays at the Anna Maria pits. Warmups begin at 8:45 a.m., followed by random team selection.
There is no charge to play and everyone is welcome.
Key Royale golf news
Golf action got started Jan. 9 at the Key Royale Club in Holmes Beach with the weekly men’s modified-Stableford system match. The team of Tom Perkins and Tom Solosky combined on a plus-5 to earn a 2-point victory over the team of Ron Buck, Mike Gille, Ron Huibers and Dave Richardson. The team of Dale Hudson, Bill Merrill and Terry Tarras was alone in third at plus-2.
The women switched things up for their Jan. 10 golf outing with a game of low putts over a nine-hole round.
Marcia Friessen needed only 12 putts in her round, one better than Jenny Huiber. Annette Hall and Jan Turner each finished with 15 putts to share third place.
Friessen and Huibers teamed up with Terry Taylor to log a combined 60 putts to win the team competition by three putts over the team of Annette Hall, Jane Perkins and Billie Jean Pinson.
Huibers also added a birdie during her round, while Friessen, Laurie Hicks and Ann Hitchen each had chip-ins.
Members were back on the course Jan. 12 for a nine-hole shamble, counting the two best scores from each group.
The team of Larry Davis, Tim Donnar, Dale Hudson and Wayne Patterson combined on a 6-under-par 58 to run away with bragging rights for the day. The team of John Kolojeski, Blake Ress, Gary Risner and Earl Ritchie were four strokes back in second place.